§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has regarding the negotiation of a contract between British Nuclear Fuels plc and the German company VEBA to reprocess German nuclear waste at the THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield, 99W Cumbria; whether any United Kingdom or West German Government agency is acting as an intermediary between the two companies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe contractual negotiations that have taken place directly between British Nuclear Fuels plc and several German utilities are a commercial matter for the companies involved. They relate to reprocessing at Sellafield of spent fuel from German reactors, not of waste. In line with Government policy, the contracts, when concluded, will provide for the return to the Federal Republic of Germany of wastes arising from the reprocessing.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current expected cost of the THORP nuclear waste reprocessing plant at Sellafield, Cumbria; and what is the anticipated date on which it will begin operations.
§ Mr. BaldryThe expected total cost of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield is some £1.8 billion. British Nuclear Fuels plc has secured business worth up to £5 billion which will pay for its investment in the plant. The fuel receipt and storage facility is operational now and commercial reprocessing is expected to begin in late 1992. The facility will reprocess spent fuel and not waste.